North Korea Commemorates 60th Anniversary of North Korea-China Friendship Treaty... Chaired by Choe Ryong-hae, 'Second in Command'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Marking the 60th anniversary of the signing of the North Korea-China Friendship Treaty (July 11), a commemorative banquet was held to showcase the friendly relations between the two countries. Amid the US-China conflict, North Korea and China appear to be gradually drawing closer.

On the 10th, the Korean Central News Agency reported, "The State Affairs Commission held a banquet on the 9th to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the signing of the 'Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance between North Korea and China (Bukjung Friendship Treaty).'"

The banquet was presided over by Choe Ryong-hae, First Vice Chairman of the State Affairs Commission and considered the second in power hierarchy, with attendees including Kim Song-nam, Director of the International Department, Mun Song-hyok, Deputy Director of the International Department, Kim Chol-gun, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Defense, and Pak Myong-ho, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs.

From the Chinese side, Ambassador Li Jinjun to North Korea and embassy staff were invited.

Before the banquet, Vice Chairman Choe held talks with Ambassador Li and conveyed greetings to Chinese President Xi Jinping. Vice Chairman Choe stated, "Even after the long span of 60 years, the significance of the (Bukjung Friendship) Treaty has not faded at all, and under the current international situation, its strategic importance is increasingly highlighted day by day."

He added, "The Bukjung friendship, centered on socialism as the common ideal of the peoples of the two countries, is today being comprehensively expanded and developed in accordance with the new era's demands under the direct attention of the heads of the two parties and two countries."

Vice Chairman Choe emphasized, "We firmly support the position of the Chinese Party and government and will always stand with our Chinese comrades on the path to advance the socialist cause." In response, Ambassador Li referred to the signing of the Bukjung Friendship Treaty 60 years ago and said, "The five meetings between the top leaders of the two parties in the new era highlight the treaty's epochal significance."

The Bukjung Friendship Treaty was signed on July 11, 1961, in Beijing by Chairman Kim Il-sung and Premier Zhou Enlai, including provisions for 'automatic military intervention.' Recently, amid the US-China conflict structure, North Korea and China have been drawing closer, marking the 60th anniversary of the friendship treaty on a grand scale.

On the 26th of last month, North Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized on its website that "the Bukjung (North Korea-China) friendship and cooperation relationship will be further solidified and developed by Comrade Kim Jong-un and Comrade Xi Jinping," and on the 7th, Wang Wenbin, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated at a briefing that the Bukjung Friendship Treaty is "a major event in the history of bilateral relations, a strategic decision made by the leaders of both countries with a long-term vision."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.